Regulator system



S. D. SPRONG REGULATOR SYSTEM Filed Feb. 20, 1922 INVENTOR WITNESSES: Q

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1925,

STATES PATENT SEVERE I). SPEONG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGEOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 5 MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A GORPUBJATIQIJ 0F EENNSYLVAITIA.

REGULATOR SYSTEM.

Application filed February 20, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SEvEnN D. SPRONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county or" Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Regulator Systems, of which the following is a specification.

'My invention relates to regulator systems and it has special relation to inductionregulator control systems.

One object of my invention is to provide a control system for an induction regulator which will speed up the operation oi the regulator in correcting for voltage variations upon the transmission line to which the same is connected.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide means for preventing unnecessary operation of the induction regulator.

More specifically, my invention comprises providing a damped electromagnet and an 'u'ndan'iped electromagnet each controlling co-operating movable contact members and being connected in parallel across the supply circuit.

Heretofore, the control of an ind 1Ctl011 regulator has been effected by means of a contact-linking voltmeter controlling a floating contact device that co-operated with two lined contact members. The gap between the contact members determined the permissible voltage variation before the induction regulator operated in either direction. The single control electromagnet of the voltmeter was undamped. With such a system, the induction regulator operated frequently to correct for slight voltage changes of short duration. Furthermore, the regulator had a tendency to hunt it the setting of the voltmeter was close. That is to say, it the voltmeter was set so that a relatively large variation was necessary to operate the induction regulator, increased voltage variations were permissible on the transmission line within. that setting. On the other hand, a close setting of the voltmeter caused operation ot the regulator upon every voltage variation, however slight,

The variations encountered and which $eria1 No. 537,859.

need to be corrected for are, first, those due to slow changes of the system from one-halt to one volt, and which are not immediately perceptible in its effect upon the machines supplied from the system but need to be corrected for if or" continued duration. and second, those more abrupt and wider voltage variations which need to be corrected for ris rapidly as possible.

In order to properly correct for both classes of voltage variations. the present invention contemplates providing a sensitively-poised but damped clement adjusted with an operatin contact gap corresponding to a small amount of voltage, say volt, and second, mounting the co-operating contact members upon poised arms and controlling the operation of the same by a similar elcctromagnct, energized from the same source, through the co-operation of means which may be so adjusted as not to be responsive to voltage variations less than the full voltage or the gap between the contact members, i. e., 1 volts.

Thus, the functioning of the regulator to promptly correct for variations in voltage of continued duration is accomplished by the first element, which has a relatively slow and small actuating movement, while the correction for the larger and more abrupt variations is accomplished the second element, which has a relatively fast and large actuating movement. Other voltage variations, such as small variations of short duration, will not cause the operation of the induction regulator, since it is not needed. By eliminating unnecessary operation of the regulator and reducing the liability to hunting action, the period of actual corrective operation of the regulator may be shortened.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic illustration of circuits and apparatus embodying my invention.

In the figure, an induction regulator is diagrammatically illustrated at- 1, as comprising the usual voltage winding 2 and current winding 3, Which are connected in a familiar manner to the supply line indicated by the conductors l and 5. A motor for operating the induction regulator is indicated at 6, and is controlled by reversing switches 7 and 8. The reversing switches 7 and 8 are adapted to be selectively energized by a mechanism 9, which comprises electromagnets 11 and 12, a pivoted arm 18, carrying contact member 1360, and co--operating pivoted arms it and 15, respectively carrying contact members 14a and 15a.

The electromagnet 11 comprises a core armature 16, pivotally connected to the con tact-carrying lever arm 13, and an energize ing winding 17. A spring 18 cooperates with the contact lever arm 13, as shown. The electromagnet 11 has a two-wa dashpot mechanism 19 co-operating therewith for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The electroinagnet 12 comprises a core armature 21 and an energizing winding The arms 4 and are adapted 0 respectively engage limits or stops 28 and 29 Whenever they are operated, and to operate against the action of springs 30 and 31, respectively.

In the following; description of the operation of the apparatus, it will be assumed, solely by way of example, that the normal operating gap between the contact members corresponds to volt. A distinction is herein made between the operating gap and the contact nap at the position of rest,

as will be hereinafter pointed out. However, where the term is used in the claims, this distinction is not necessarily intended.

Assume that there is an abrupt voltage variation oi one and one-quarter volts upon the supply line l. 5. lhe electromagnet 1:?) will be instantaneously actuated, but neither ot the arms 14 and 15 will be moved ar enougz h to eii'ecu engagement of the contact members because of the action of the springs 30 and 31. Therefore, there will be no operation of the induction regulator to correct for this voltage variation. It the variation is or long enough duration to permit the siinultaneouslyenergized and damped electromagnet 11 to move the contact arm 13 a sutiicient distance to engage with either oi the co-operatinp; contact arms 14 and 15. the induction regulator will be operated to correct for the variation. It will be understood that the control apparatus is so arranged voltage variation is not permitted to exist ior a lenzzth oi? t c suilicient to have a damaging" el'lect. Also, it will he noted that the co-operai'ine contact members are moved toward each other during the corrective ction.

I-lext, assume a voltage variation of vol: of extended duration. This variation will etc the electromagnet ii and the arm i a i -t distance to en 'ag'e the appropriate ier Lilli. cause the y, the cooperating; ("o t l-icz or law has been moved a cry slight dist a direction towa ds e contact memo That is to s set. the contact orrespones to than of a voltvariation e contact inen'iber and 1565 are moved p et'l'ective or ope gap correspc. volt. li hen the res: ilator has been o ated to correct for assa ied variat on *Q'nets 11 and 19 he comes normal. er. .tely the unda n, magnet returns and permits the arms 1 and to return to normal position. thus promptly breaking contact to de-enera'ize the motor 6 to preclude over mine 01'. the regrelator. In the above operation. the time ment is determined by the settinc; oi" dash-pot mechanism 1).

It will he noted that the regulator has not been operated to correct for the small v; ation until it has existed for a predeternli ed lent-1th of time. which time is lone; enough to insure that the variation is more than temporary and, therefore, should be corrected tor.

Next. assume an abrupt voltage variation o't volts. The electromaa'net 19 will be unediately operated to cause engagement 0... the ipropriate contact members to oper ate the induction rc.. ,rula or to correct for the voltage variation. Upon the return to normal voltage, the undamped element a niu permits prompt breaking oi contact our ment.

In each of the above instances. it wi l he understood that the normal operation that the mechanism 9 selectively energizes the re versinsr switches '7 and 8 to rotate the motor 6 in the one direction or the other. An increased voltage upon the transformer Q5. lower the core of the electroinagnet ll raise the core of the electromeo net l2. wl. l a decreased voltage upon the trans'toi ner 2 will raise the core of the electromaa'uct and will lower the core of the electroaia net r35 In the actual construction of the apparatus, the coll rs and 2'? mav be adiusted upon the rod .& in order to {rive different settings therefor.

By eliminating the unnecessary functioning of the regulator even with close setting of the contact members of the control app ratus. the tendency of the regulator to or c; run is eliminated. It, therefore. has become possible to rearrange the gearing bet the motor and the regulator so as to speed up the corrective operation of the regu lator.

liliodilications in the system and arrange :nent and location o't' parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention. nd such modifications are intended to be covered by appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit and an induction regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising an electromagnet, a contact-carrying arm controlled thereby, timeelement mechanism co-operating with said electromagnet, a pair of movably-mounted contact members co-operating with said arm, and a second electromagnet connected in circuit with the first-mentioned el-ectro magnet and adapted to selectively control the operation of the pair of contact members.

2. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit and an induction regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising an electromagnet, contact-making mechanism controlled thereby, a dash-pot mechanism co-operating with said electromagnet, a pair of movably mounted contact members cooperating with said mechanism, and a second electromagnet adapted to selectively control the operation of the pair of contact members, said electromaguets being operated in accordance with variations in a characteristic of said supply circuit.

3. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit and an induction regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising an electromagnet. contact mechanism controlled thereby, a dash pot mechanism co-opemtingwith said electromagnet, a pair of movably-mounted contact members co-operatin-g with said mechanism, and a second electromagnet energized to selectively control the operation of the pair of contact members in accordance with variations in a characteristic of said supply circuit, whereby said regulator will function to correct for relatively small continued variations in said supply circuit ant relatively large variations in said supply circuit.

4. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit and a regulator con nected thereto, of control means therefor comprising a damped electromagnet, a main contact member controlled thereby, a pair of movably-mounted contact members co-operating with said main contact memher, and an undamped electromagnet adapted to control the operation of the pair of contact members.

5. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control meaii for said regulator comprising a relatively slow-acting electromagnet and a relatively fast-acting electromagnet, bot-h electromagnets being energize-d in accordance with the supply circuit characteristic to be regulated, and co-operating contact mechanism having a pair of contact members controlled by one of said electromagnets.

6. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising a relatively slow-acting electromagnet, contact means controlled thereby, a relatively fastacting electromagnet, and a second contact means adapted to be selectively controlled by the operation of the second-mentioned electromagnet, said electromagnets being energized by the same electrical quantity.

7. In a regulator system for a supply circuit. the combination with an induction regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising a reversible motor, switches controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, a relatively slow-acting electromagnet, a contact-carrying arm controlled thereby, a pair of movably mounted contact members co-operating with said arm and a relatively fast-acting electromagnet adapted to control the operation of the pair of contact members to selectively energize said switches, said electromagnets being energized in accordance with the voltage of said supply circuit.

8, The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising contact means having co-operating movable contact members, and a damped element and an undamped element respectively co-operatin-g with said contact means to control the same. to thereby control said regulator, and means for energizing said elements in accordance with variations in the same electrical quan tity.

9. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor. of control means for said regulator comprising contact means having cooperating movable contact members, and a damped actuating element and an undamped actuating element respectively co-operating with said contact members and controlled in accordance with variations in the supply circuit characteristic to be regulated, whereby said regulator will be oper ated only in the event of a relatively small continued variation and a relatively large variation in the supply-circuit characteristic.

10. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising contact means having co-operating movable contact members, and actuating means for said contact members controlled in accordance with variations in the supply-circuit characteristic to be regulated and so arranged that one portion of said contact members will be actuated upon a relatively small variation and another portion of said contact members will be actuated upon a relatively large variat-ion.

11. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising contact means having co-operating movable contact members, and actuating means respectively '00- operating with said contact members and controlled in accordance with the supply circuit characteristic to be regulated, one of which means has a relatively small corrective movement and the other of which has a relatively large corrective movement.

12. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising contact means having co-operating movable contact members, and actuating means respectively cooperating with said contact members and controlled in accordance with variations in the supply-circuit characteristic to be regulated, one of which means has a relatively small and slow corrective movement, and the other 01 which has a relatively large and rapid corrective movement.

13. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising contact means having co-operating movable contact mem bers, and actuating means respectively cooperating with said contact members and controlled in accordance with variations in the supply-circuit characteristic to be regu lated, one of which means has a relatively small and damped corrective movement, and the other of which has a relatively large and undamped corrective movement.

14. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit and an induction regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising an electromagnet, contact-making mechanism controlled thereby, a daslppot mechanism co-operating with said electromagnet, a pair of movablymounted contact members co-operating with said mechanism and a second electromagnet adapted to selectively control the operation of the pair of contact members, said electromagnets being operated in accordance with variations in a characteristic of said supply circuit and adapted to move the co-operating contact members toward each other.

15. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit and an induction regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising an electromagnet, a contact-carrying arm controlled thereby, a daslnpot mechanism co-operating with said electromagnet, a pair of movably-mounted contact members co-operating with said arm, a second electromagnet connected in circuit with the first-mentioned electromagnet and adapted to selectively control the operation of the pair of contact members, and means for preventing hunting action.

16. In a regulator system for a supply circuit, a regulator connected thereto, control means for said regulator comprising a damped electromagnet and an undamped electromagnet, said electromagnets being onergized in accordance with the characteristic to be regulated, contact-making mechanism controlled by said electromagnets whereby said regulator will function to correct for relatively small continued variations in said supply circuit and relatively large variations in said supply circuit, and means for preventing hunting action.

17. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising a relatively slow-acting electromagnet and a relatively fast-acting electromagnet, both electromagnets being energized in accordance with the supply-circuit characteristic to be regulated, and co-operating contact mechanism having a pair of contact members controlled by one of said electromagnets, and means for preventing hunting action.

18. The combination with a supply circuit and an induction regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising a reversible electric motor, a plurality of switches controlling the direction of rotation of said motor, a damped electromagnet, a single undamped electromagnet, contact means controlled by said electromagnets to selectively energize said switches, and means for preventing, hunting action.

19. In a regulator system, the combination with a supply circuit and a regulator connected thereto, of control means therefor comprising a damped electromagnet, a main contact member controlled thereby, a pair of movably-mounted contact members cooperating with said main contact member and an undamped electromagnet adapted to control the operation of the pair of contact members, the co-operating contact members being moved toward each other.

20. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising a relatively slow-acting electromagnet, contact means controlled thereby, a relatively fast-acting electromagnet, and second contact means adapted to be selectively controlled by the operation of the second-mentioned electromagnet, the co-operating contact means being adapted to be moved toward each other in the control operation.

21. The combination with a supply circuit and a regulator therefor, of control means for said regulator comprising contact means having co-operating movable contact mem bers, and a damped element and an unclamped element respectively co-operating with said contact members to control the same, to thereby control said regulator, and means for energizing said elements in accordance with variatlons 1n the same electrical quantity.

In testimonv whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of February 1922.

SEVERN D. SPRONG. 

